Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe

Officials said the trees identified for felling include around 400 deodars, 150 oaks, 135 kail (blue pines), and several broadleaf species, shrubs and bamboo. The forest land marked for diversion cuts through key city pockets such as US Club, Nabha, Benmore, Nav Bahar, Chhota Shimla, Lakkar Bazaar, Chaura Maidan, Tara Hall and Kaithu, and stretches out to Sankat Mochan, Up Mohal Shanan-2, Up Mohal Bag, Aarakshit Van Sandal and Jungle Mangaltoo in the rural belt.

According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover.

A senior forest officer told The Indian Express that RTDC will be required to plant nearly 4,125 saplings, mostly deodar, across 12 hectares at the Samani beat in the Luhri range of Ani Forest Division, Kullu district. The valuation of the trees stands at Rs. 4.62 crore, while the overall compensatory requirement, including plantation, land cost and soil conservation, comes to around Rs. 11.80 crore and may rise to Rs. 19 crore. “This amount must be deposited by RTDC with the state and Centre before final approval is issued,” the officer said.

Documents uploaded on Parivesh, MoEFCC’s online portal, show that 4.5639 hectares of the forest land fall in urban Shimla and 1.6270 hectares in rural areas. Nearly 85 percent of the diversion is within city limits. A source said the proposal clarified that not all trees across 6.1990 hectares will be felled.

Shimla Conservator of Forests K Thirumal said compensatory afforestation is mandatory wherever forest land is diverted. “User agencies can take up CA anywhere in India, but most states prefer to carry it out within their boundaries. The site at Luhri was identified and finalised by the department. Under CA rules, the user agency has to compensate for twice the area taken,” he said.

Divisional Forest Officer (Urban) Shimla Pawan K Chauhan said the department has completed tree enumeration, valuation and identification of CA land. “Deodar dominates Shimla’s forest belt, so valuation was done tree-wise. Since adequate CA land isn’t available in Shimla, 12.5 hectares at Luhri, about 150 km from the project site, has been earmarked,” he said..

DFO Ani Chaman Lal said the proposed CA site has been uploaded on Parivesh. “The climate at Luhri suits deodar. About 69 percent of the 4,125 saplings will be deodar, and the rest kail, oak and native fruit-bearing species. We expect MoEFCC to clear the CA site within 90 days,” he said.

The ropeway will connect Tara Devi, Judicial Complex, Chakkar, Tutikandi Parking, New ISBT Tutikandi, Railway Station, Old ISBT, Lift, Secretariat, Nav Bahar, Sanjauli, IGMC, Ice Skating Rink and 103 Tunnel near Hotel Chetan, creating a continuous aerial corridor across the city.

RTDC Director Ajay Sharma said the corporation has already given its assent for compensatory afforestation in the Ani division. “All costs, from tree felling to plantation and maintenance, will be borne by RTDC. The estimated expenditure is between Rs. 19 crore and Rs. 21 crore,” he said.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjay Sood added that Stage-II clearance from MoEFCC is awaited. “Once it is received, the land will be handed over to the user agency,” he said.

From the homepage

US clears Excalibur artillery shells, Javelin anti-tank systems for India

SC clarifies Governor’s powers: How it answered 14 questions referred by President

90% of selected students Muslim, Sangh outfits want admission for Vaishnodevi medical college scrapped